Rated 4 out of 5 by Tony Dykstra While the wireless capability is great for roaming and seamless hand-off, there have been intermittent issues with connection dropping on Apple devices. Valuable Features:The most valuable features of the WatchGuard product line that we appreciate and leverage the most is the UTM security suite. That front-line of defense is invaluable in providing protection for our network, and the networks of our customers.Improvements to My Organization:The WatchGuard SSL VPN is great for remote access to our location, and for remote support to our customer locations. It allows us to easily and securely access their network remotely to make any changes needed while supporting them.Room for Improvement:While the wireless capability is great for roaming and seamless hand-off, there have been intermittent issues with connection dropping on Apple devices.Use of Solution:We have been using and selling the WatchGuard product line for three years.Deployment Issues:We have had no issues with any of the WatchGuard XTM deployments.Stability Issues:The WatchGuard XTM platform has been very stable.Scalability Issues:No issues encountered.Customer Service:Excellent, they have incredibly quick response to any questions, and their online customer portal is very nice.Technical Support:Excellent, they have never had an issue troubleshooting our equipment or help with our clients equipment. Their ticketing system is also very helpful.Previous Solutions:We used SonicWall. We made the switch shortly after Dell acquired them due to their continued wireless issues. WatchGuard seemed to be much more stable and scalable. We have had much better success with WatchGuard and are very glad we made the switch, especially for our customers.Initial Setup:Because we are an IT company, and are certified in the product, setup was very straightforward. I like the interface as it is very logical to set everything up. For a standard end-user, however, it is very complicated as an enterprise based router/firewall is not intended for the general end user to set up.Implementation Team:Being an IT solutions provider, we were able to purchase through our distributer and deploy in-house as we are certified in the product. We have installed this device in our offices, and many different WatchGuard products at many different locations.ROI:The return was very fast, as it helps us to do our job very effectively and securely.Cost and Licensing Advice:Pricing and licensing is very straightforward. No hidden fees, and applying licenses is incredibly easy.Other Solutions Considered:Because we are an IT solutions provider, we looked into a few different options before deciding to proceed with WatchGuard. We looked at continuing with SonicWall, Cisco, Adtran, etc. WatchGuard was the best fit for our company as well as our clients.Other Advice:While there are many choices available today, and you won’t be disappointed if you choose to proceed with implementing a WatchGuard device. We have been using them for years, have deployed them at many locations, and have been very happy with them – as have our customers.Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:We are a WatchGuard Gold partner. August 4, 2015

Rated 4 out of 5 by Evandro Bruno The application proxies are valuable but we had some problems of instability with older versions of the software. Valuable Features:* Multiple VPN choice* Application proxies* VoIPRoom for Improvement:SSO needs to be improved.Use of Solution:I've used it for four years.Deployment Issues:No issues encountered.Stability Issues:We had some problems of instability with older versions of thesoftware. Today, however, with the 11.9.4 version, our environment isvery stable.Scalability Issues:No issues encountered.Customer Service:9/10.Technical Support:9/10.Previous Solutions:We previously used the Microsoft ISA server, and we switched because it was discontinued.Initial Setup:It was straightforward.Implementation Team:We implemented it into our environment.Other Solutions Considered:We also looked at SonicWALL.Other Advice:Take an online course in the WatchGuard site and you will have no problems.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions. April 30, 2015

Rated 4 out of 5 by Kalyan Deorukhakar It has definitely helped us in framing and implementing IT policy of our organization, but the VPN hardware needs to improve. Valuable Features:* For the monitoring of the devices' operation, and network traffic, a monitoring software, "WatchGuard System Manager" is provided* It has an online traffic monitor, which is an ultimate feature and valuable for troubleshooting* Web/URL filter is strengthened by the WebSense filter* The web based log analyzer called "WatchGuard Dimension," offers great information regarding network traffic* The traffic analysis reports can be created in both granular and brief summary fashion, and extracts are useful for managerial informationImprovements to My Organization:* Online traffic monitoring is a great help in network troubleshooting, as the log analyzer reports found great sources of information for technical support and the management who are barely acquainted with the technical terms* Websense has categorized web traffic in over 150 different categories* Decisions to block certain unwanted sites or categories have been made on the basis of the web traffic trend presented by the log analyzer* Permissions can be set by groups, so as an educational organization, our users are grouped as administrative officers, clerical staff, post graduate students, research students and faculty* The web access is made available to users is only available for their work, and as a result, the utilization of Internet connectivity has been improved* It has definitely help us in framing and implementing IT policy of our organization.Room for Improvement:Initially WatchGuard assured us regarding endpoint security, but we are not sure that the product provides endpoint security features to its full extent. Instead, WatchGuard provided us a VPN hardware. WatchGuard needs to improve this feature.Use of Solution:I've used it for over two years.Deployment Issues:We had almost no problems.Stability Issues:The product has been stable for the last two years. We have connected it to three leased lines, a DMZ with 10 web applications and 2000+ campus users are connected without any issues. Also, there have been no bottlenecks!!!Customer Service:Satisfactory to good.Technical Support:The technical team, so far with WatchGuard OEM has been excellent. Recently, there a new team has been formed, and I am yet to interact with them. Also, the support team from their business partner is also good. We have a very good rapport with them and during the last two years only, only one or two unsolved issues were escalated to their international support.Previous Solutions:We were using a different solution previously, but it didn't prove perfect for our requirements. It lacked many features like URL filtering, log analysis etc. So we were searching for a better product. We had a proof of concept from three reputed products.Finally, WatchGuard offered almost all the features we needed, coupled with the lowest recurring cost, i.e. annual subscription renewals.Initial Setup:We have got three internet lines shared amongst campus users and off campus web clients.The requirements keep changing from time to time. We have over 35VLANs that need to be catered for according to IT policy of theorganization. and WatchGuard is almost perfect.Implementation Team:A joint OEM and vendor team initially implemented the product. The team configured and demonstrated the product to us. They also handed over operational know-how of the product, and the team had an exceptional level of competency.ROI:The ROI can be measured in several ways. First, our in house team has excelled in re-configurating the product and network troubleshooting is made simple using WatchGuard tools. The tools are very simple to handle, so our in-house team has become more confident and got more expertise in handling IT infrastructure.There are moderate renewal cost for subscriptions like AV, IPS, IDS,web filter, application control etc. therefore recurring cost is low. As such after fulfilling rationale of the firewall device, additional returns are in the form of lower operating costs and manpower expertise.Therefore, the returns are higher as compared with the initial investment on this product, so the ROI is positive.Cost and Licensing Advice:Our estimated cost for the setup was INR25,00,000+/- and we grabbed an offer for a pair of devices, costing around half of the estimated cost. Deprecation is 33% on this kind of equipment. The annual subscription renewal cost is 20% of original set up cost.Other Solutions Considered:* Fortinet* HPOther Advice:WatchGuard XTM2050A has enterprise class performance with the cost of an SMB class device. If you are not enthusiastic about the brands or reputed survey reports, WatchGuard will be definitely an option to go for.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions. April 29, 2015

Rated 3 out of 5 by Dan McKeown I found this device to be one of the most stable platforms that I have worked with, but paying a yearly maintenance fee for firmware updates is not worth it in my opinion. Valuable Features:I love the GUI and the ability to edit rules on the fly without needing to save a configuration. This makes for a very quick adjustment when needed. I also like the fact that you can save to a configuration file, so if there are a number of changes being made, it can always be rolled back to the previous save.Improvements to My Organization:This device was one that I deployed on my own business network and has given me the ability to thoroughly know the product that I was selling. The added security features from Live Security ensured I did not have to manually update some of the basic functions of the device.Room for Improvement:I feel that paying a yearly maintenance fee for firmware updates is not worth it in my opinion. I would rather see the yearly fee go for updates to the add-ons and live security, but I think as time goes on firmware updates should be free since the price tag of some of these devices is difficult for some small businesses to swallow.While I hold the company in high regard the learning curve on these devices can be tough right out of the box. I've had to contact support on numerous occasions due to little quirks in the system that needed to be ironed out.Use of Solution:I personally have had an XTM25 in my own network for over five years,and I've used multiple versions of WatchGuard enterprise gradefirewalls over the last decade. My first experience was with an X500Edge and the last product I had the opportunity to use in the field wasan XTM26 for small to medium sized businesses.Deployment Issues:Yes, there were times that the device would lock up after completing the initial configuration and would need to be factory reset.Stability Issues:I found this device to be one of the most stable platforms that I have worked with. Even when the UI seemed to fail on a device, the product still functioned until we had time to reboot the device and bring the UI back online.Scalability Issues:Yes, I deployed an XTM25 to a smaller business and the company grew beyond what the device could handle VPN wise. There was a trade in process but the company decided not to go with that since it was within a year and the process was not worth their time or effort.Customer Service:I had great encounters with all levels of customer service from the general help desk all the way up to our regional manager.Technical Support:Most of the time when I called customer support it was for features that I did not work with or if I had a configuration question that did not seem to be working. Most of the time, I was able to get the answers right there on the phone. There were times that tickets had to be opened and a call back was warranted, and most of the time I received a solid response within 24 hours.Previous Solutions:Previously we used a software firewall deployed to a form factor box. We switched because of my experience with the product and the stability.Initial Setup:The initial setup was straight forward, The GUI pretty much takes you through all of the settings you would need to know to set up a general device.Implementation Team:I was the implementation team for my organization as I was part of a managed service provider.ROI:The ROI for this product in my eyes was knowing that my customers were protected by a stable platform that could be updated and upgraded when they needed it. The features that were available could be added as needed with small additional purchases for feature keys.Cost and Licensing Advice:Depending on the product, my setup cost was around $250 for time and labor. For the most part I could deploy one of these devices in about an hour with very little downtime to the organization.Other Solutions Considered:I had been a vendor of firewall services for many years prior to deploying WatchGuard technology. I evaluated and was not impressed with SonicWALL, or Untangle. I was deploying pfSense on boxes and found that the WatchGuard platform was perfect in size, and the software seemed to match all of the features of pfSense. The reason for switching ultimately came down to additional customer service and availability of support.Other Advice:This product is solid and has a great reputation behind it. I would recommend the product and company to anyone looking for a great firewall solution.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions. April 29, 2015

Rated 4 out of 5 by ThirdLineEng821 Although it's expensive, you should go for it as it offers great protection for your network. Valuable Features:* Nice user interface* Ease of use* Easy to set up* Good range of subscription servicesImprovements to My Organization:It has added many security features to our network with the use of the subscription services such as Gareway AV, Reputation Enabled Defence, Webblocker, IPS, etc.Room for Improvement:* Expensive* Requires client-server application to use some advanced featuresUse of Solution:I've used it for six months.Deployment Issues:No issues encountered.Stability Issues:No issues encountered.Scalability Issues:No issues encountered.Customer Service:Great customer service with fast response.Technical Support:They have good technical knowledge.Previous Solutions:We used to use Drayteks, but they did not offer the features that were were looking for.Initial Setup:It was pretty straightforward, especially with the use of a setup wizard.Implementation Team:We implemented it in-house.Other Solutions Considered:We also looked at an option from Sophos.Other Advice:Go for it. It's a great product with many security features and offers great protection for your network.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions. April 28, 2015

Rated 4 out of 5 by Dan Schneck The multi-layer security of the products are the primary reason we use these appliances, however, the gateway wireless functionality for managing access points leaves much to be desired. Valuable Features:They provide excellent security and administration at a reasonable price. However, the multi-layer security of the products are the primary reason we use these appliances. Another valuable feature of the product is that the configuration interface and tools across any product is the same, making administration of the devices simple and consistent.Improvements to My Organization:WatchGuard has improved the way our organization functions by providing our client sites with better security. Since we have been working with WatchGuard appliances, the rate of spy-ware, malware, and viruses has dropped significantly.Room for Improvement:The WatchGuard gateway wireless functionality for managing access points leaves much to be desired. While the access points are good hardware, the access point controller lacks many of the features found on other wireless controllers. For example, when adding a MAC address to the controller (if restricting access to particular devices), every attached access point reboots, interrupting the wireless network.Use of Solution:We've used it for more than four years, alongside APs100 & 200. We also run a WatchGuard Dimension reporting server.Deployment Issues:No issues encountered.Stability Issues:We encountered some issues with the older generation firewalls (e.g. XTM 515s), however, the more recent models have been very stable.Scalability Issues:We have not encountered any scalability issues with these firewall appliances.Customer Service:When we have called on them for sales and product support, the customer service has been very good.Technical Support:When we have needed it, the technicians responding to cases are always helpful and very competent on the products. We generally get quick resolution on the issues.Previous Solutions:We used to use various other firewall solutions Including Cisco, Sonicwall, and Fortinet. We switched because WatchGuard offered better value for money without sacrificing security. We found the ease of configuration, tools, and features on this next generation firewall to be a better value than other firewalls with no security compromise.Initial Setup:The initial setup for these appliances is simple. There are options to configure through a software utility or a web-based GUI. Both options are relatively simple. There is a wizard feature that allows for quick configuration. They even have the ability to preconfigure firewalls, send them to the sites, and have them deployed live on-site, where the configuration is downloaded from the Internet. This saves a lot of time.We can deploy online and automatically download configurations. Or, we can deploy off-line by manually installing and configuring the appliances. Deployment is simplified since all configurations are saved as XML files.Implementation Team:We implemented our WatchGuard solutions in-house since we are a managed service provider.ROI:Our ROI on the product is positive.Cost and Licensing Advice:Depending on model chosen, the setup cost hardware ($2,000-$5,000) and labor (approx. $500). The day-to-day cost is approximately $1.20 per day (includes maintenance/updates and labor costs to do firmware updates & monitoring).Other Solutions Considered:We compared our existing solutions to WatchGuard.Other Advice:The best advice is to take the time to learn the product well. Take advantage of training to learn the product fully as, without the training, it can be difficult to administer the products. Also, knowing the tools for administration goes a long way.Disclaimer: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:We have been WatchGuard channel partners for four years. April 28, 2015

Rated 3 out of 5 by Thu Ya The product is great for small enterprise usage but WiFi throughput needs work. Valuable Features:* Drag and drop VPN is the most satisfying feature* Easy to configureImprovements to My Organization:It has reduced the amount of manpower needed in IT departments.Room for Improvement:Wireless throughput needs to be improved.Use of Solution:I've use it for nearly two years.Deployment Issues:No issues encountered.Stability Issues:No issues encountered.Scalability Issues:No issues encountered.Customer Service:I haven’t requested any help from customer service.Technical Support:I attended training from WatchGuard, as a result, I haven’t needed help from technical support.Initial Setup:Initial setup is very simple for me.Implementation Team:I implemented it by myself.ROI:The product is great for small enterprise usage.Other Solutions Considered:I compared XTM with Cisco ASA firewalls, but Cisco isn’t as easy as XTM to handover.Other Advice:The product is easy to use and is the fastest way to learn about firewalls.Disclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions. April 28, 2015

Rated 4 out of 5 by Jeff deLucia Reporting features are there but aren't the greatest when compared to other devices. ? Valuable Features:* WatchGuard System Manager can work with multiple devices at once* The Web UI is accessible from any OS platformRoom for Improvement:Reporting features are there but aren't the greatest when compared to other devices.Use of Solution:I've used it for four to five years.Deployment Issues:I had no issues during deployment.Stability Issues:Early models of the XTM2 (e.g. 21, 22, 23) line lacked sufficient memory, and caused a number of issues that required frequent reboots. WatchGuard has since discontinued that line and has replaced them with a more robust XTM25 and 26 option.Scalability Issues:No issues so far.Customer Service:7-8/10.Technical Support:7-8/10 and I've yet to have an issue go unresolved.Initial Setup:It was straightforward for the most part. All firewalls are a little unique in their own way, resulting in some complexity but, compaired to say Sonicwall, WatchGuard is straightforward.Implementation Team:It was done in-house.Other Solutions Considered:* Sonicwall* SophosOther Advice:It's a solid firewall option with new. and useful, features typically being added with each new firmware releaseDisclaimer: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions. April 28, 2015